Waterless gas holder with cable-guided piston



Aug. 11, 1936. E. I... PEASE 2,050,459

WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE GUIDED PISTON Original Filed Nov. 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ.

iIIWIWMIWIWIWIIV a? ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1936. E, L, PEASE 2,050,459

WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE GUIDED PISTON Original Filed Nov. 19, 1-93; 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edward L. Pease ATTORNEY/ Aug. 11, 1936. E. 1.. PEASE 2,050,459

WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE GUIDED PISTON Original Filed Nov. 19, 1932 5 SheetsSheet 3 l l I 1W E NT'O R Edward T Pe ase [7W A Tommy Aug, 1 1, 1936. E L. PEASE 2,050,459

WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE GUIDED PISTON Original Filed Nov. 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVBIHOR Aug. 11, 1936. E A E 2,050,459

WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE GUIDED PISTON I Original Filed Nov. 19, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR d Pease fl w/ Edwar ygz ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATERLESS GAS HOLDER WITH CABLE-GUIDED PISTON Ware Application November 19, 1932, Serial No. 643,452. Renewed October 31, 1935. In Great Britain November 30, 1931 8 Claims.

This invention relates to gasholders of the float ing disc type in which a piston closure is movable vertically in a stationary closed tank. In this type of holder gas is admitted to the holder below the piston closure which is loaded to a value corresponding to the desired pressure of gas.

It is the object of the invention to provide simple and efiicient means for preserving the piston closure in its normal horizontal plane during its movement in the tank and while 'stationary. I

It is a further object of the invention to enable an existing gasholder of the water type having a movable gas containing tank of the single or multiple lift type to be readily converted into a holder of the piston closure type and thereby form a holder of greater gasholding capacity with a minimum of structural alteration.

The floating piston closure according to the invention is maintained in a normal horizontal plane by at least three cables or chains each attached at one end to the fixed roof or to the upper part of the sides of the holder or tank and at the other end to the bottom of the tank at a point equidistant from the points of connection of the other cables, each cable being slidably connected to the piston closure at at least two points on a diameter of the disc.

Each cable may extend diametrically over or under the piston closure or alternatively may pass downwards from the piston closure at the central part thereof.

The piston closure may be loaded with concrete blocks in the known manner or may be dishshaped to hold water which serves to load it.

The circumferential edge of the piston closure may be sealed in known manner.

According to the invention the guiding pulleys are carried in housings at the points where the cables or chains pass from one of the zones formed by the piston closure to the other zone and sealing means are provided at these housings.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figs. 1 and 2 show a side elevation and plan respectively of a construction according to the invention in which the cables or chains extend diametrically across the piston closure.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the housings and sealing means.

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of a modified construction in which the cables or chains pass downwards centrally of the piston closure.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a sectional side elevation and plan respectively of the centrally disposed housings and sealing means.

Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a gas holder which has been converted from a water type holder to one of the floating piston closure type.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the holder or tank I has a fixed roof 2 to which cables 3 are anchored at diametrically opposite points on a, circumference corresponding to that of the piston closure 4. Each cable 3 passes downward, under a pulley 5 carried by the piston closure 4 adjacent the periphery of the latter, and passesacross said closure to a pulley 6 also carried by the closure. From the pulley 6 the cable enters through a conduit la, a housing 1 containing an oil bath 8 (the conduit la entering the bath 8) and passing under a pulley 9 submerged in the 'oil bath and over a pulley Ill, passes downwards through a conduit II which rises above the level of the oil bath 8, and through the disc to the bottom of the tank I where it is anchored.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the cables or chains 3' are anchored to the fixed roof 2 as in the construction described above at equidistant diametrically opposed points. Each cable 3' passes downward and under guide pulleys 5 at the outer rim of the disc and passes radially towards the centre of the disc. A centrally disposed housing I2 supports guide pulleys I3 over each of which a cable 3' passes into the housing I2. The housing I2 forms an annular chamber I l containing an oil bath I5. The annular chamber I4 is divided by a circular member I6 extending downwardly from the cover ll of the housing. At the lower end of the member I6 are carried guide pulleys I8 submerged in the oil bath I5. Each cable 3' passes under one of the guide pulleys I8 and over a guide pulley I9 carried on the inner wall 20 of the annular chamber I4. Each cable 3 after passing over a pulley I 9 passes down through the piston closure 5 to the bottom of the holder or tank I where it is anchored.

In both the constructions described it will be seen that the piston closure can only be tilted if the cables are able to stretch.

With cables of constant length any tilting tendency of the piston closure is resisted by the cables. With the construction according to the invention considerable movement of the piston closure towards the roof of the holder is permissible.

It will be seen that by braking the movement of the guide pulleys on the disc under which the cable or chain passes from the roof, for example by means of brake drums, the pressure exerted by the piston closure on the enclosed gas may be controlled. In a further modification, the cables may, after passing under the pulleys on the periphery of the piston closure, pass over a pulley in the roof and thence to a second'pulley on the piston closure, andso to the centre or opposite side of the piston closure. Before reaching the anchoring point at the bottom of the holder, the cable may ':pass over a pulley on the bottom, thence to a pulley on the-under side of the piston closure, and so to the anchoring point on the bottom.

In the construction illustrated by Fig. '7, the existing single lift 2| of a water type holder with its base-'22 is retained in the case where it is desired to provide a holder of greater capacity. The existing supports of the water type holder in which .the liftfior lifts were arranged to move vertically are removed and maybe utilized in the construction of the stationary tank 'Avring'plate 4 of theproper outer diameter is attached to the crown of the lift"2l,'making with it a gas-tight joint. The cables 3" are fixed to the upper part of the :tank and the foundation OI'IbZiSB ofith'e holder asshown and arranged to passunderxand over the guide pulleys 5" and 6" respectively. Sealing means as described above areprovided where the cables pass from the upper to the'lower zone ofxtheholder. The existing arrangements for introducing and exhausting gas from the holder are of the .usual construction :and .are .not shown .as no departure from standardpracticeis madein this connection.

It'wilLhe apparent'thatithe cables 3" maybe :arranged'to passfrom the top to the bottom centrally of :the lift 2|, as .illustratedin Figs. 4,5 .and 6, and similar-sealing arrangements provided.

More thanone of the existing-lifts of the old holder which-were of the'multiple lift type may, as'will beapparent, .be utilized.

.-1. In a waterless gasholder of the pistonclosure type comprising a tank and ,a piston -,closure.for saidtank, means for maintaining said guide means'and extending transversely of the piston-closure and the other parts of each cable passing from thepiston closure vertically to the top and :bottom :respectivelyrof the tank.

2..In a waterless gasholder of the pistonclosure type comprisingatanka piston-closure zfor .said :tank, :means comprising at least three ably connecting the intermediate part of each cable to .thepiston closure at at least two points :on a diameter of the latter.

3. A waterless gasholder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide means carried. by the upper surface of the piston closure and movably connecting the intermediate part of each cable to .the piston closure are located at diametrically opposed points .on the periphery of the piston closure.

24. In .a waterless gasholder of the pistonclosure type comprising a tank, a piston closure for said tank, at least three flexible cables each fastened at one of its ends to the upper part of the tank and at its other end to the base of the holder at points spaced substantially equidistantly from the other cables with the intermediate portion of its length extending diametrically across the upper surface of the piston closure and through the same, means carried by the 11 piston :closure andjlocated at'diiferent points on a-diameter thereof for movably connecting the intermediate diametrically extending portion of each cable to thepiston, andmeans forming a gas seal around each of .said cables where it passes through the piston closure.

5. In a waterless gasholder of the pistonclosure typecomprising a tank, a piston closure forsaid tank, at least three flexible cables each fastened atone of its ends to the top of the holder -:and at its :other end :to the base of the holder at points substantially equidistant from the other cables and'having its intermediate portion extending radially across the upper surface of the piston closure and through the same, guide means carried by the piston closure and located at different points spaced transversely thereof for movably connecting each cable to the piston closure, and means forming a gas seal around said cables where they pass through the piston closure.

6. In a waterless gasholder of the pistonclosure type comprising a tank, a piston closure for said tank, said piston closure having a central opening, at least three flexible cables each having one of its ends fastened to the upper portion of said tank and its other end to the base 'ofztheholderat points substantially equidistant from the'other cables and having its intermediate portion extending radially across the upper sur- .faceof thepiston and'through the central opening of the piston, means carried by the piston .for movablyconnecting each cable to the piston,

an open ended annular liquid-containing chamberifixed on thepiston and surrounding said centrally disposed opening, a cylindrical member extending downwardly into said chamber concentrically therewith, and a plurality of guide pulleys, one for each of said cables, attached to the lower portion of said cylindrical member.

7. In a waterless gasholder having a shell and piston movablerelative to one another, a plurality of pulleysmounted adjacent the periphery of thepiston, andguide means comprising a plurality of flexible cabIea'eachcable being secured at its ends to the top and bottom respectively of the shell at points vertically aligned with the nearest pulley on the piston, and having its intermediate portion slidably connected to the 5 piston at diametrically spaced points by the 10 of the piston, and guide means comprising a plurality of flexible cables, each cable being secured at its ends to the top and bottom respectively of the shell at points vertically aligned with the nearest pulley on the piston, and having its intermediate portion slidably connected to the piston at points spaced transversely and circumferentially thereof by the pulleys nearest to the ends of the cables.

EDWARD LLOYD PEASE. 

